Bad time for Robbie, Mets
Amazin’s fall as Cano goes on IL just when he starts to get hot
Steven Matz fell back into old patterns and dug a hole too deep for his struggling offense to claw out of as the Mets dropped to a 4-8 record in the young season.
Matz, in his third outing of 2020, looked like the southpaw from the first half of the 2019 season. Last season, he gave up 10 firstinning home runs (19 earned runs) across his first 16 starts. He entered Tuesday's start having avoided giving up a home-run ball in the first inning in the 16 starts since.
But the 29-year-old spiraled out of control for two home runs and five earned runs over just three innings in the Mets' 5-3 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday. It was a sight Mets fans had become too familiar with last year, when Matz just couldn't seem to focus or level his emotions on the mound.
To make things worse, the Mets lost their hottest hitter when Robinson Cano went on the injured list with a groin strain.
Nationals veteran third baseman Howie Kendrick took Matz deep in the first inning and the left-hander coughed up another dinger to Josh Harrison, who led off the second inning. Nothing Matz offered was deceiving the Nationals as the lineup pounded him for seven hits over 78 pitches.
Even though the 2020 season just commenced, and it seems like the Mets have time to improve, 20% of the season ended Tuesday. The shortened, 60-game season takes away the Mets' chance to iron out their rotation problems and get the lineup to click again. The sense of urgency is not lost on the Mets. It's possible they're pressing at the plate to make up for their shoddy start.
Andres Gimenez continued to make the most of his opportunity to play in the majors with a 2-for-4 day at the plate and a fantastic defensive performance filling in for Amed Rosario (left quad tightness) at shortstop. The 21-year-old is batting .333 and has participated in 11 of the Mets' 12 games this season.
Three quarters of the Mets infield received MRIs in Washington on Tuesday. Cano, Jeff McNeil and Rosario all signaled discomfort Monday in Atlanta. The results of their MRIs were scattered in terms of significance.
Cano was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left adductor (groin) strain.
McNeil's MRI revealed a low-grade right intercostal strain, which is a muscle within the rib cage. He is day-to-day. Rosario is also day-to-day.
Cano, 37, was initially removed in the fifth inning of Monday's 7-2 victory over the Braves with left groin tightness, and the MRI revealed the strain. Any Grade 2 groin strain infers damage to a percentage of muscle fibers. The treatment is expected to involve ice, compression and physical therapy. The timeline for Cano's return remains unclear, but he is expected to be on the mend for a while.
“It's hard to come back to another spring training and just get ready in three weeks,” said Mets catcher Wilson Ramos. “It's not enough. To me, it's not enough time.”
McNeil was a late scratch from Monday's lineup after his lower back tightened up during his pregame routine in the batting cage. His MRI revealed the strain in his rib cage, not his back. That the Mets did not put McNeil on the IL indicates their hope for a quick recovery.
Rosario appears in the best condition among the three infielders, as his MRI did not alter the diagnosis of his initial left quad discomfort. It's likely the Mets are playing it safe with Rosario.
Cano represents the biggest blow to the Mets, as the veteran second baseman had just started swinging the bat well. The 37year-old was batting .591 (13-for-22) with a 1.434 OPS, seven RBI and three walks over his last seven games. He began the season going 1-for-12 and hitting seventh over his first four games.
“It's tough to lose three guys like that that are regularly in your lineup,” said skipper Luis Rojas. “And also how they're swinging the bat … This game is full of adversity, and we know that as a team. What we've got to have is the ability to recover and keep moving. I know we have the depth to come in and have a lineup that can compete against any team.”
Tuesday marked Cano's fourth trip to the IL since joining the Mets before the 2019 season. His most recent trip to the IL also arrived after he enjoyed a hot stretch.
Cano was hitting .230 with a .686 OPS the entire month of July 2019, before exploding for a .526 average (10-for-19) with a home run, three RBI and a walk over five games at the beginning of August. His hot streak was cut short when he went on the IL with a left hamstring strain on Aug. 5, and didn't return until Sept. 4.